identify your
system

CHOOSING YOUR SHOWER

Before purchasing your digital shower you need to consider a few factors that will ultimately determine which type and fitting of shower is suitable for you.

IDENTIFY YOUR WATER SYSTEM

Before choosing your shower you need to identify your water system, the following diagrams will help you identify your system, however if you are in any doubt or have any questions please consult a qualified plumber.

Gravity Fed Water System

Combination Boiler System

Unvented System

Pumped gravity fed water system

DO I NEED A CONCEALED OR EXPOSED DIGITAL SHOWER?

Before choosing your shower you need to identify your water system, the following diagrams will help you identify your system, however if you are in any doubt or have any questions please consult a qualified plumber.

THE EXPOSED DIGITAL SHOWER

Exposed Digital showers dispense hot and cold blended water from the pipe contained within the shower’s slider rail which is fitted on the surface of the wall. The clever ‘exposed’ design of the shower means there’s no need for installation to cause damage to your bathroom’s décor or tiling. Providing there’s easy access to space above the showering area (for instance, the loft), exposed Digital showers are extremely simple to install and fitting can be complete in as little as two hours.

Exposed Digital showers are the most popular choice of Digital shower and can be the easiest for the plumber to install.

THE CONCEALED DIGITAL SHOWER

A concealed Digital shower’s hot and cold blended water pipe is concealed in the wall. This makes for a neat and compact shower, where only the shower’s control and shower head are visible. It is an especially good choice for a smaller showering enclosure where space is at a premium or if you prefer a fixed shower head. A concealed shower is also the best option if you cannot access the space above the showering area. Providing the showering area is adjacent to an airing cupboard, concealed Digital showers are very simple to install.

Body jets for concealed Quartz Digital showers should be purchased at the same time as your Quartz Digital, as they cannot be fitted afterwards.

DO I NEED A WATER PUMP?

Some digital showers including the Aqualisa Ilux and HiQu offer two versions of shower, a pumped digital shower for gravity fed systems and a non pumped digital shower for high pressure and combi boiler installations. With these ‘integrated pump’ systems an additional shower pump is not required.

It is vital to choose the correct shower system for your water system. Before deciding on an water pump in your system you should ask yourself the following questions:

1. What kind of water system you have?
This is important as booster pumps can only be added to gravity systems. You must NOT fit booster pumps to high pressure or combination boiler water systems. If you are unsure, about your water system you can ask your plumber.

2. Whether you have sufficient vertical distance from the bottom of the cistern to the top of the shower head?This is because the greater the vertical distance (called “head of water”) the better the shower’s flow rate and performance. Typically this should be no less than one metre. However gravity systems can sometimes have a disappointing flow of water if there is not a good “head” of water. Adding a pump can make an enormous difference to your showering experience and will allow you to add extras such as body jets.

3. Do you already have a water pump installed in your gravity fed system?If you already have a water pump installed in your system you cannot add another, furthermore you cannot use a ‘pumped’ digital shower option. Please call us for more details / advice.

4. Do you intend to upgrade your water water system in the near future?If you plan to replace your conventional gravity fed boiler with a combination boiler, for example, in the near future it is best to seek advice from your plumber on shower options and water pumps so that you have a compatible system after your boiler upgrade.

HANDY HINTS

It’s essential that you choose the right pump. Not just for you, your family and your new shower – but for the plumbing system too. A pump will increase the volume of water you shower can deliver per minute and it’s important to check your water tank will have enough storage capacity to cope. Vital during the morning rush hour when everyone wants a hot shower.Don’t overlook where all that extra water will go to either. You’ll need to ensure you shower tray’s waste is sufficiently capable of quickly and effectively draining water away.